A millionaire former UKIP man has told a jury he feels no responsibility at all for the death of a workman on his land who was digging a trench for his leaky swimming pool.

Peter Clements, 48, was buried alive when tonnes of soil fell on top of him, Exeter Crown Court has been told.

Keith Clements, 73, a former soldier, UKIP parliamentary candidate and property tycoon is accused of his manslaughter and a health and safety breach. It is alleged he ignored safety concerns raised by Mr Clements before he was killed. He denies the charges.

Crawford told the jury he had worked hard since the death of his wife several years ago to build up his portfolio of 60 properties.

He said rents from the properties brought in £360,000 a year gross. Among his properties are Jasmine Thai Restaurant in Fore Street and Angela’s in New Bridge Street. He said he was worth between six and seven million pounds but denied being a wealthy man.

“I’m not short of a bob or two but I’m not wealthy. I’d like to be wealthier," he said.

Keith Crawford

Mr Mooney suggested to him that he disliked bureaucracy or ‘red tape’ and employing workers directly because that meant paying for sick pay, National Insurance, holidays and ‘lots of things European laws have brought into our country’.

Crawford said: “What you’re trying to say is that I don’t give a damn – but I don’t accept that,” said Crawford.

He said he liked to negotiate verbal agreements with workers about jobs and pay ‘man-to-man’.

“That’s how Keith Crawford operates,” he said.

The jury has already heard that Mr Clements was digging a soak-away for Crawford’s leaking swimming pool when the ground collapsed on top of him.

His son Ryan and a digger driver pulled him out alive with the help of machinery and chains but he died a few days later from a cardiac arrest. He had suffered broken ribs and a collapsed lung in the incident on January 15, 2015.

The prosecution say Mr Clements had raised safety concerns with Crawford shortly before the incident. It is alleged that when workers suggested a trench box for protection Crawford said. ‘F**k that, it’s getting stupid money now – just carry on with what you are doing’.